Pillavin et al

Question 1

What is interpersonal distance?

Answer 1

Interpersonal distance refers to the physical space individuals maintain between themselves and others during social interactions, influenced by cultural, social, and personal factors.

Question 2

What is personal space?

Answer 2

Personal space is the invisible area surrounding an individual where they feel comfortable and safe, and intrusion can cause discomfort or anxiety.

Question 3

What factors contribute to preferred personal space?

Answer 3

Factors include cultural background, personality traits, emotional state, relationship with others, and situational context.

Question 4

What is empathy?

Answer 4

Empathy is the ability to recognize, understand, and share the feelings or perspectives of others.

Question 5

What are the two dimensions of empathy?

Answer 5

The two dimensions are cognitive empathy (understanding others’ thoughts) and emotional empathy (sharing others’ emotions).

Question 6

What are social hormones?

Answer 6

Social hormones, like oxytocin and vasopressin, are chemicals that play a role in regulating social behavior and bonding.

Question 7

How can social hormones affect bonding?

Answer 7

They can increase trust, promote feelings of closeness, reduce anxiety in social interactions, and enhance cooperative behavior.

Question 8

What is the amygdala?

Answer 8

The amygdala is a brain structure involved in emotional processing, particularly fear, threat detection, and social interactions.

Question 9

How does the amygdala correlate to personal space?

Answer 9

The amygdala helps regulate personal space preferences by detecting and responding to threats or discomfort when space boundaries are crossed.

Question 10

What is the social salience hypothesis?

Answer 10

This hypothesis suggests that the amygdala highlights socially relevant stimuli, making certain interactions or cues more noticeable and influential.

Question 11

What is the aim of the Perry et al. study?

Answer 11

The study aimed to explore how the amygdala and oxytocin influence interpersonal distance and personal space regulation.

Question 12

What was the research method and design of the study?

Answer 12

The study used an experimental method with a repeated-measures design, testing participants under different conditions.

Question 13

What were the data collection techniques?

Answer 13

Techniques included behavioral observations, questionnaires, and neuroimaging to measure brain activity.

Question 14

What was the independent variable of the study?

Answer 14

The primary independent variable was whether participants received oxytocin or a placebo.

Question 15

What was the dependent variable of the study?

Answer 15

The dependent variable was the interpersonal distance participants maintained from others.

Question 16

What was the sample size of the study?

Answer 16

Approximately 30–100 participants were involved, ensuring a manageable size for detailed analysis.

Question 17

How was the questionnaire designed in the study?

Answer 17

The questionnaire assessed participants’ comfort levels with interpersonal distances and their attitudes toward social interactions.

Question 18

What were the standardized tests involved in the experiment?

Answer 18

Tests measured baseline traits like social anxiety, empathy, and personality characteristics.

Question 19

What was the 3rd independent variable in the study?

Answer 19

The third variable could involve factors like social context or baseline amygdala activity.

Question 20

What was the procedure for Experiment 1?

Answer 20

Participants received either oxytocin or a placebo, then their interpersonal distances were measured in standardized social scenarios.

Question 21

What was the procedure of Experiment 2?

Answer 21

Experiment 2 replicated the conditions with additional neuroimaging (e.g., fMRI) to observe amygdala activation during distance tasks.

Question 22

What controls were used in the study?

Answer 22

Controls included the use of placebos, random assignment, and standardized social scenarios to minimize bias.

Question 23

Evaluate how ethical the study was (strengths and weaknesses).

Answer 23

Strengths:

Informed consent was obtained.
Minimal physical risk.
Participants were debriefed.
Weaknesses:
Oxytocin administration could raise ethical concerns.
Potential discomfort during social distance tasks.

Question 24

What were the results of Experiment 1?

Answer 24

Oxytocin administration led to reduced interpersonal distances, suggesting its role in promoting social bonding.

Question 25

What were the results of Experiment 2?

Answer 25

Neuroimaging showed increased amygdala activity when participants regulated their interpersonal distance, correlating with oxytocin influence

Question 26

What is the conclusion of the study?

Answer 26

The study concluded that oxytocin and amygdala activity are crucial in regulating interpersonal distance and enhancing social bonding.

Question 27

What are the strengths of the study (brief pointers)?

Answer 27

Combines behavioral and neurological data.
Innovative use of oxytocin administration.
High control over experimental variables.

Question 28

What are the weaknesses of the study (brief pointers)?

Answer 28

Limited generalizability due to sample size.
Ethical concerns regarding hormone administration.
Potential bias in self-reported measures.

Question 29

How is the study applicable to everyday life?

Answer 29

The study helps in understanding social anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, and improving therapeutic interventions for social deficits.

Question 30

What side is the study on in the individual vs. situational debate?

Answer 30

The study supports the situational side by showing how external factors like oxytocin influence personal space and social interactions.